More than 600 turn out to pay respects to Paddy Ashdown

More than 600 turn out to pay respects to Paddy Ashdown

LORD Paddy Ashdown's family and friends were joined by former Prime Minister Sir John Major at his funeral.

Around 400 mourners paid their respects to the former Liberal Democrats leader inside St Mary's church in Norton-sub-Hamdon, near Yeovil, Somerset.

But 200 more packed into the nearby village hall where the moving service was televised on three screens today (January 10).

The ex-Royal Marine and MI6 spy died surrounded by family on December 22, aged 77 - weeks after he revealed he had been diagnosed with bladder cancer.

The service for loved-ones was conducted by his close friend, former rector Peter Thomas.

He started proceedings by referencing Paddy's real name - Jeremy.

Mourners laughed when he welcomed them by saying: "We've come together to remember before God our brother Paddy - and I suspect God also knew him as Paddy rather than Jeremy and probably didn't call him Lord."

His sister Alisoun Downing said: "You were always the axis of our family. My big brother out there fighting dragons somewhere. And I thought you would always be there."

Alison read one of Lord Ashdown's favourite poems, A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning, by John Donne.

She said Lord Ashdown's "advice" to those attending was the poem's final lines: "Thy firmness makes my circle just, And makes me end where I begun."

Sir John Major described Lord Ashdown as "a man of duty, passion, and devotion to the country he loved - right up to the very end".

He added: "In Government, Paddy Ashdown was my opponent. In life, he was a much-valued friend."

Lord Ashdown grew up in Northern Ireland.

In May, the "obsessive Radio 3 listener", who sat in the House of Lords and led the Liberal Democrats between 1988 and 1999, said he would be "hard put" not to consider Irish re-unification if he lived in Northern Ireland.

And his links to Ireland were referenced throughout the service with the Irish blessing - and his coffin was carried out to The Parting Glass by The Dubliners.

Villagers recalled Lord Ashdown's personable character outside the church, describing him as a "wonderful man".

Simon Fairlie, 68, said he lived in a hippy commune on the outskirts of Norton-sub-Hamdon and became friends with Lord Ashdown.

He said: "I came to the village as part of a hippy commune that set up in the woods in 1994.

"There was a lot of antipathy for many people in the village who were worried about what we were going to do.

"Paddy was great - he was unbiased. Had a look and saw what we were trying to do and was very supportive.

"He was also a good friend.

"I remember him coming up one Christmas Eve, perhaps 1995, when we were in our benders around the fire.

"He was a bit merry and he came and visited us in our camp when the rest of the village didn't want to know us."

Villager Joan Payne, 82, said: "All us old ladies used to wait at the bus stop and he always used to offer a lift.

"He was a wonderful man."

Tony Capozzolli, chairman of South Somerset District Council, knew Paddy since he was elected Liberal Democrats leader.

He said: "We have so many fond memories.

"One of them that sticks out was he did a presentation at a school. That particularly evening I had a yellow tie on

and he came over and said 'Are you coming over to our side'. We always had a laugh together.

"Paddy was the best Liberal leader this country has ever had."

Former rector Peter Thomas said after the service: "Most frequently I would see Paddy walking through the

village with his dog.

"I do remember an incident a few years ago on Christmas morning when he observed one of the candles

was burning some of the plastic surround, and he leapt from his seat.

"If only I had the initiative I would have observed one Lord a-leaping on Christmas Day.

"There's a very real sense that Norton sub Hamden was a safe place to be.

"Even if he was significant in the news he could still come to this pub, the Lord Nelson behind me where we

are holding the wake, and have a drink with close friends in the evening.

Ipsoregulated

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